Report for Back River (Virginia) - 1870

General
District: 5th
Inspector: Commo. Dornin, Inspector, 5th Dist.
Location:
Date of Report: 09/28/1870
Latitude:
Longitude:
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Enclosed by board fence.
Wharf or Landing on Premises:
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station:
Distance to Nearest Road:
Distance to Post Office:
Distance to Village:
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Detached tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established:
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
Condition at This Date:
Shape of Tower in Plan:
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball:
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water:
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea:
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Whitewashed
Tower Connection:
Object of Navigation:
Building Materials: Built of brick, in good condition
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Of wood & in good condition.
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: All in good condition.
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: Wood, & in good condition.
Number of Doors:
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: None required


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: None
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Revolving varied by flashes
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval: 1' 30"
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels:
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum:
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum:
Does Apparatus Revolve?: False
Is There a Revolving Belt?: False
Revolving Panels:
How Flash is Produced:
Number of Vertical Elements Panel:
Fixed Lens Covered:
Pedestal:
Service Table:
Draft Tube Description:
Revolving Machinery:
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls:
Chariot Description:
Length of Drop Tube:
Clock Weight:
Length of Winding Time:
Drive During Rewind:
Machinery Protection:
Regulated:
Lens Protection:
How Color is Produced:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Lens of 4th order (Franklin lamp)
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1, in good condition.
Number of Spare Burners: 2, in proper order.
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description:
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): There is a closet provided for the preservation of utensils, wicks, chimneys and cleaning materials. There is also a closet provided for paints, oils, spirits of turpentine, paint-brushes, etc. in the oil room.
Suitability:
Dwelling
Location:
Coloring:
Construction Materials:
Number of Rooms:
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers:
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses:
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks:
Area Inclosed:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated: A small part
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps: There is a Regulation Clock.
Condition
Lantern: In good condition
Illuminating Apparatus: Very clean outside & in.
Service Lamp: Clean & the glass chimney free from all soot, smoke or stains.
Oil: Sample examined & found to be free from all objectionable matter. It had not been filtered.
Service Lamp Burner: In good condition, & free from all gummy, or burnt oil, & wicks are well trimmed.
Service Lamp Burner Level: It is found to be level.
Plate Glass: Clean & all in good condition.
Lens Cover: Cover was on; clean; made of linen ticking & kept in the lantern room when not in use.
Lantern Curtains: 2 sets clean & in good condition; put up & taken down at proper times.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: None
Rod Lamp: There is a Rod Lamp in very good condition; trimmed ready for use.
Dwelling: All in good condition, lightning conductor much needed.
Stairway and Landing: Fresh painted, clean.
Inside of Tower: Whitewashed throughout.
Glazing of Dwelling: In good condition
Improvements Needed: None
Outhouses: In good condition
Boathouse:
Grounds: In good order. They are neat & clean.


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: Lens is never touched improperly.
Lantern and Trap Doors: They fit properly
Watch or Trimming Room: There are none of those things to be seen at time of inspection.
Lucernes or Matches: None of the above articles were seen out of their places.
Heater: Keeper understands use of heater.
Ventilation: Keeper understands use of the ventilators & how to air the bldg.
Dome: They were painted according to Instructions & the lightning conductor was in good order, with the end into the ground.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: Clean; well ventilated & no appearance of waste.
Oil Carriers: Clean & arranged in order.
Number of 100 Gallon Oil Butts: None
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts: 3
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil: None
Number of Dripping Buckets: 3
Number of Oil Tanks: 3 holding 150 gallons
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: They are so made.
Oil Butt Covers: Gutters were so filled, & covers on; Keeper understands use of covers & air cocks.
Drip Bucket Placement: There was one so hung.
Oil Butt Platform: They are placed upon a raised platform of plank.
Empty Oil Butts: There was one clean & ready for use.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: They are so put up & packed.
Paints Separate: They are kept separate
Tool Chest: None
Tool Condition: Some few in good condition.
Tools Free from Rust: They are free from rust & kept well greased.
Closets Clean: Clean & properly aired.
Service Box In Good Order: They are well arranged & in good order.
Trimming Scissors Clean: They are
Brushes and Floor Clothes: All in good order & in their proper places.
Lantern Condition: In very good condition.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: Keeper is neat & tidy
Keeper Interested in Duties: He was interested
Keeper Capacity for Duties: He did
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: He does
Keeper Complaints: He made none
Keeper Family: Keeper's family occupy dwelling with him.
Keeper Name: William Thornton
Keeper Age: Middle age
Keeper Present or Absent: Keeper was absent procuring his letters.
Number of Assistants: 1 assistant at this station
Assistants Attend to Duty: He does
Assistants Capability: He seems to be capable.
Assistants Complaints: He did not
Assistants Family: None
Assistant Keeper Names: William Thornton, Jr., young, present.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: The assistant accompanied me throughout my inspection.


Account and Regulations Books
Account Books
Daily Expenditures Posted: They are
Quarterly Returns on Hand: They are
Receipt and Expenditure Accounts Kept: They are
Shipwreck and Vessels Passed Book: They are
Regulations, Instructions, and Directions
Rules and Regulations Copies: 1
Instructions and Directions Copies: 1
Placard Directions Copies: 1
Notice to Visitors Copies: 1
Summary of Duties: 1
Index of Instructions: 1
Guide for Mixed Paints: 1
Directions for Purifying Water: 1
Placards Easily Visible: They are
Books Easily Accessible: They are
Blank Books and Forms:


Revolving Machinery Condition
Revolving Machinery: In good order & very regular.
Weight of Machine: It is placed as prescribed by Instructions.
Screwjacks for Raising Machinery: There are none.